Category: Municipal Law

Sign executive order

Gov. Murphy Signs COVID-19 Legislation and Executive Orders Impacting New Jersey Municipalities

On March 20, 2020 Gov. Phil Murphy took action on several bills aimed to help New Jersey municipalities address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He also issued several Executive Orders impacting public entities.  Below is a brief summary: Mail-in Ballots (A-3095/S-1982): The legislation addresses concerns from county clerks regarding sufficient time to prepare mail-in

Gov. Murphy Signs Election Bills into Law

Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed several bills into law that seek to improve New Jersey’s election process. The measures establish an online voter registration center, require district boundaries and corresponding election results to be posted online, and mandate that incarcerated individuals be counted at their last known street address for legislative

311 message

NJ Appeals Court Rules 311 Message Is Sufficient Notice Under TCA

With pothole season underway, New Jersey municipalities should be aware of a recent Appellate Division decision. In Martinez v. City of Hoboken, the Appellate Division held that a plaintiff’s message to the city of Hoboken on the City’s electronic 311 online reporting system regarding an injury she sustained stepping in a pothole was sufficient

New Law Amends MLUL to Address Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in New Jersey

Governor Phil Murphy has made clean energy one of his top priorities. Earlier this year, New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities released a draft Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050, which includes reducing emissions by encouraging electric vehicle adoption.  In June, the Murphy Administration announced the New Jersey Partnership

Court Strikes Down NJ Zoning Law Governing Alzheimer’s Residences

Court Strikes Down NJ Zoning Law Governing Alzheimer’s Residences

In Blake Gardens, LLC v. State of New Jersey, U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan of the District of New Jersey struck down a New Jersey law that reclassified Alzheimer’s residences as health care facilities and placed them under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health (DOH). The law, New Jersey P.L. 2015 c.

Successfully Incorporating Mental Health into New Jersey Schools

Successfully Incorporating Mental Health into New Jersey Schools

Over the past decade, students aged 12-17 have experienced a 59 percent increase in depression and emotional disorders. In light of that, it is increasingly important for New Jersey schools to take a proactive approach to mental health. Under a new law, New Jersey schools must incorporate mental health into

Third Circuit Rules NJIT Liable for Attorneys’ Fees under OPRA

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently held in Golden v. New Jersey Inst. of Tech. that an author was wrongly denied fees under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). According to the appeals court, although the fact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) directed the New Jersey

NJ Supreme Court Narrows Keyport Decision

Legislation Clarifies Standard for Sex Abuse Suits Against Public Entities

The New Jersey Legislature is advancing a bill that clarifies the standard for liability in sexual abuse lawsuits against public entities and public employees. Senate Bill 3739 aims to address the confusion created by recently enacted Senate Bill 477, which extended the statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse claims. The new standards are